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Dr Tim's pearls (based on what I have read) is a form of carbon dosing. I have tried similar forms of carbon dosing. Based on my experience using Vertex Bio-pellets (similar type product to Dr Tim's Pearls), I had found a there are just as effective as having a sump filled with fast growing macro algae.

The biggest difference IMO, is carbon dosing by using biodegradable polymers or polyhydroxyalkanoates (spelling ???) comes with some risks to your water quality as well as providing increased risks of cyano, while you will not have these risks with macro algae nor will you have added expense.

I am slowly becoming a greater believer in using macro algae (in the sump) in set-up with a lot of live rock as I am getting better and better results in my water quality. I have been using this approach in both of my set-ups and my nitrates never get higher than 2ppm. The skimmers in both set-ups do not pull as much out of the water as they used to either

If you take your time to do the research FIRST, you can successfully set-up and keep ANY type of aquarium with ease."Not using a quarantine tank is like playing Russian roulette. Nobody wins the game, some people just get to play longer than others." - Anthony CalfoFishless CycleCycling with FishMarine Aquarium Info [URL="http://saltwater.aquaticcommunity.com/"]

If a SW aquarium is setup with sufficient live rock and is allowed to mature then nitrate reduction will happen naturally. As for phosphate reduction, you can use a fuge. or a GFO reactor. Personally I run GFO for my phosphate removal.

If a SW aquarium is setup with sufficient live rock and is allowed to mature then nitrate reduction will happen naturally. As for phosphate reduction, you can use a fuge. or a GFO reactor. Personally I run GFO for my phosphate removal.

I personally don't believe in dosing aquariums as that is only a temperay fix. I prefer making the setup support itself.

LR is the best way but the hard part is the price. I will need 700lbs at $3 a pound is $2,100 not including tax. That is out of the question and will stick with the LR I currently have.

After a lot of reading and research I decided to stick with my algae scrubber setup I am going to build. My custom sump has a huge fuge in it and the scrubber will just help even more. I have a small one I built on my 300g and have never changed the water in it. All the values are perfect.

It is good to know of the other methods out there. I think my friend could use a GFO reactor or even dose. I will point them to this thread